Simple Tricks For Preventing Rust Disease On Your Lawn

From pre-germinating your grass seeds for a more lush lawn to carefully mowing and tending to the needs of your grass, you've likely put a lot of work into creating a luscious lawn that you enjoy spending time with. Because of this, the last thing you want to see when you walk outside is a powdery, rust-colored fungi all over your grass. When it comes to keeping a picture-perfect yard, lawn rust can be a nightmare. Thankfully, there are a few simple tricks you can use to prevent rust disease in your yard.

Lawn rust is a common disease caused by fungal spores that thrive in warm and humid weather. You can recognize it by the orange-brown powder the spores deposit on your grass. Over time, lawn rust can cause discoloration and unhealthy, weak grass.

If you've noticed lawn rust around your yard, don't panic yet. While it can be detrimental for your yard's appearance if left untreated, there are ways to treat lawn rust, such as changing up your maintenance routine. There are also plenty of ways to prevent it before it even becomes a problem.

There are two main ways to prevent lawn rust from becoming a problem in your yard. First, you'll want to ensure you have a proper maintenance routine that keeps your grass healthy.

This can start with the seeds, as it's important to choose hardy varieties that thrive in your region, and continues on to mowing, watering, and fertilizing. A healthy lawn can often withstand the threat of disease whereas a stressed lawn is often more at risk to issues like lawn rust. You should also aim to prevent the conditions that lawn rust thrives in. Like most types of fungi, lawn rust prefers moisture, which makes yards with poor drainage an excellent target. You'll want to avoid overwatering, instead opting for the landscaping secret professionals recommend: deeper watering with less frequency. After all, one of the biggest lawncare myths is that your lawn needs daily watering. In reality, such tactics may lead to the growth of fungi.

The second way to prevent lawn rust from taking over your yard is to catch it early. It spreads easily, and first appears as a yellowing of the grass before orange flecks show up. While it may be tempting to use a fungicide, this should be considered a last resort for severe cases, especially since changing your maintenance routine is often enough to get rid of lawn rust.